Marina stared down at her mate Dessan as he slept from the strange Nocturne's spell. She glanced at who she was working with and wasn't enthused. While she had no quarrels with the daughters of the Sorceress, she didn't trust them with an inch of her life, but in order to save her clan she must trust these girls. She hoped this could at least have them prove their place in her clan.
"Alright girls," Marina snapped. "We've got a lot of work to do and I shall not sleep until that disgusting mimic is found. Arm yourselves with your familiars and spells. We'll need them in case of trouble."
Raven still laid shocked on the floor. "Are you serious? Dessan and these other Nocturnes are literally out to kill us and you want to save them?"
"Of course I do," Marina growled deeply at Raven. "This clan is my family, these lands are my home. I refuse to let anything pull me away from them. Knowing what we know now proves that I cannot do this alone. I promised your father I would keep you two safe, especially if your mother were to be released and I will hold up this promise but right now I need your powers at my side or all of our loved ones are doomed."
Raven looked to her sister who, up to this point had been nervously standing to the side. "Alright old crone," Raven sighed. "I guess we can lend you our strength."
"Good," Marina relaxed.
Ylva was coiled on the floor, shaking trying to move as she watched her doppelganger click around the room. "Ah Ylva," the creature called out. It sent shivers down the frozen dragon's spine to hear her own voice even though she was not the one speaking. "You were an asset to this clan, I didn't believe I could trick you so easily. Yet, here we are. You, bound by your own magic. Your clan, in ruins! And the most powerful being in this clan under MY control." Young Malace flew down from the rafters and looked past Ylva and bowed to the Mimic. Ylva did take note of his shaking movements. He was fighting for control, but this mimic had strong magic. She wondered if he would be able to free himself.
"Y-You w-wont get a-away w-with this," Ylva snarled at the Mimic. "Marina-"
"Yes I know," The mimic growled, contorting Ylva's face. "That Bogsneak is proving to be a problem. But she's with those two Peacock Skydancers. She won't last any longer."
"D-don't," a low voice shook. Ylva and the captor both locked their gaze at Malace who was trembling violently as he fought against the Mimic's spell.
"Oh my," the Mimic whispered as it placed a wicked smile upon Ylva's face.
"Y-you underestimate them," Malace struggled to speak so he chose his words very carefully. "Raven, Azinya, Mom. They all are different. But they are all strong. They will slay you. Or worse. Imprison you." He lifted his head and his eyes shone like light from the light flight. It was now the Ylva had known this wasn't Malace speaking, but Haruka the sorceress trapped in the North Tower. She glanced at the Mimic to find it's face full of emotions. Surprised at Haruka's magic despite being locked up, terrified that she had managed to use Malace as her vessal, and furious that she was threatening the Mimic even though it had control over these lands.
"Begone from him, witch!" The mimic screamed and pushed Haruka's magic out of Malace. "All of you," it whispered in the dead silence of the woods. "All of you must die tonight!"
Raven and Azinya used their magic to pacify and eliminate the Mimics dressed as their companions. Above them, two Nocturne's circled like vultures sending magic down periodically. Winterbee and Entoma sent in their bug magic at the twin sisters to try and lessen their moral.
Marina slashed her way through the mimics without a care knowing their magic now only truly affects their Nocturnes. She took aim at Winterbee and Entoma and launched herself, taking them out with her skillful eliminate and turning her blade to the blunt end to knock them out instead of killing them.
"So that's Entoma, Winter, Royal and Crysta all taken care of," Raven sighed. "That means we have Essa and Ylva left to worry about."
You forget Malace, Azinya signed. We have yet to find traces of him so we must assume he is under their control as well.
"I don't doubt it," Marina growled. "But he is a strong one. I bet it's using all of its magic to keep him under its control."
"It doesn't matter to you," a familiar voice giggled. The three looked around the canopy where the voice came from and their hearts sank. They knew exactly who's voice this belonged to. The Chameleon Essa. "This spot is where you all will perish. This clan is as good as dead." An onslaught on spells was unleashed against the trio. Azinya and Raven did their best to dodge the spells as Marina blocked them with her cleaver. All they needed to do was find out where Essa was perched. She was smart, calculated, and powerful. But she was squishy, thus why she took to ambush attacks like this for invaders. Marina looked to the twins who were hiding under a shield Azinya had made when her mind clicked.
"Raven," Azinya shouted. "Release your Gyre!"
"You've lost it now, Hag!" Raven shouted back. She knew releasing the Gyre would mean having it release its fire magic it had stored up. The potential of an attack like that would mean massive damage to both parties and Raven wasn't about all of that. "I refuse to injure, or worse kill my sister and I like this!"
"You've been training with it, have you not," Marina lectured the young girl. "Use a small portion of its magic. Not enough to cause and eruption, but enough to cause a flash."
"I've never done that before," Raven shouted back. "It's easier to release all the magic, releasing that little would be so precise!" This was Raven's own way of admitting she wasn't strong enough, but Marina knew she had the abilities.
"Raven, you need to believe in yourself. I know that you're scared of this situation. What could happen to your sister and if you are able to protect her from your mother again. But I need you to trust in yourself and in me. If that Nocturne spoke the truth, then Haruka has already been toying with this mimic for hours now. Which means it will want to release her so it can kill her first. And we all now this cannot happen.
"So," Marina continued over the crashing of the spells around them. "Release the magic to blind Essa. Prove to me that you are a powerful mage. And lets make sure that your mother stays in her cage." Raven looked horrified and Marina before turning to her sister. She swore to protect Azinya ever since they were kids. She studied Azinya's focused face before nodding.
"Alright," she sighed. "Stand back." The Smoke Gyre flew out from between her feathers and flew near the canopy before turning into a small ball of smoke. Raven focused all that she could feeling the magic in her familiar. She waited for the build up before releasing. The Gyre unfolded as it went from black to a bright light illuminating the Tangled Woods around them like it had never been before. The trio covered their eyes as they heard horrible screams from up in the canopy. The magic stopped and the light faded as they heard a light thump on the grounds between them. Allowing themselves to open their eyes again they saw Essa laid at the ground between them.
"I'm proud of you," Marina smiled. Raven looked at the leader of her clan. She nodded excitedly and looked back to her sister who smiled brightly and hugged her.
"Quit it," the mimic shouted banging on the door to Haruka's prison. "I am in charge! I took over this clan! And I will destroy it if you don't shut up!" Ylva watched as the mimic was becoming hysterical, as do all unwelcome guests within the moonlit scar. Akuubah usually bestows a spell upon those who come into this clan to protect them from Haruka's psyonic manipulation. With the mimic sneaking in, Haruka has the perfect puppet to manipulate.
"She won't stop," Ylva noted. She was released from her paralysis but was still locked with chains and runes. "This is what she does. Drives you mad so that you can make the foolish decision to release her. You can't fall into her trap."
"Shut up!" The Mimic launched at Ylva. No longer did it look like her, instead showing off its true form. A gilded mask cloak with floating gold chains and sapphire amulets and bands. Cyan spectral hands streatched out from the sapphires that wrapped around Ylva.
"I don't give a damn about anything you say, Ice witch! I will be the one to feast on this clan! I won this honor and I will indulge in it. And you know what." Ylva watched in fear as the mimics eyes shined brighter. It turned its head slowly to the tower and several hands reached out towards it. "She's going to be my first meal!"
"NO!" A distant voice shouted. Around the trio all of their adversaries vanished.
"Did we win," Raven asked.
"No," Marina said low. "I think we're close to failure." The three rushed off towards the voice. They found themselves at the North Tower where Ylva shouted and cursed at the mimic as its spectral hands reached for the locks to undo them.
"No," Raven whispered horrified at the possibilities. Time seemed to slow, everything this clan had done to keep things safe was about to be undone. What could they do, how could they stop this? Raven feared they were too late, her mind couldn't think of anything so she looked to Marina.
Marina's face, for the first time anyone had seen, was full of horror. This Mimic had managed to tear down all that she had built throughout these years, and here it was. About to unleash the very thing she had swore to keep.
Marina and Raven stood frozen in fear and horror. It took a blast of fire aimed at the mimic to bring them back. They looked behind them to find Azinya has casted a fire ball spell. She looked at the both of them and signed: Father is down, which means his magic is no longer on the clan. I just caste his charm on myself. I can do the same for the two of you. She held out her hands and a wave of energy flowed over the two. Mother got to the both of you to lessen your moral. To let you cave and allow this thing to release her. We all know that cannot happen. So get it together and let's finish this.
Marina looked proudly upon Raven and Azinya. Raven was usually rash but here she was watching what her sister had to say and listening carefully to plans. Azinya was usually quiet, bookish and docile yet here she took a stand to help stop something. She turned around and drew her blade. Raven sharpened her claws. Azinya cased a resistance spell on all of them before they all darted towards the Mimic.
Within a few small moments, it was over. The mimic lied weak at the base of the North Gate and its magic lifted from the clan. Everyone was exhausted but glad that the worst was over. Until they heard the gate creaking open. The last things anyone saw within the North tower were the light glowing orbs of the Sorceress as she donned the Mimic as clothing, presumably draining its life essence for herself, before the gates slammed shut. She might not be released yet. But she just got a whole lot more power.
"Alright girls," Marina snapped. "We've got a lot of work to do and I shall not sleep until that disgusting mimic is found. Arm yourselves with your familiars and spells. We'll need them in case of trouble."
Raven still laid shocked on the floor. "Are you serious? Dessan and these other Nocturnes are literally out to kill us and you want to save them?"
"Of course I do," Marina growled deeply at Raven. "This clan is my family, these lands are my home. I refuse to let anything pull me away from them. Knowing what we know now proves that I cannot do this alone. I promised your father I would keep you two safe, especially if your mother were to be released and I will hold up this promise but right now I need your powers at my side or all of our loved ones are doomed."
Raven looked to her sister who, up to this point had been nervously standing to the side. "Alright old crone," Raven sighed. "I guess we can lend you our strength."
"Good," Marina relaxed.
Ylva was coiled on the floor, shaking trying to move as she watched her doppelganger click around the room. "Ah Ylva," the creature called out. It sent shivers down the frozen dragon's spine to hear her own voice even though she was not the one speaking. "You were an asset to this clan, I didn't believe I could trick you so easily. Yet, here we are. You, bound by your own magic. Your clan, in ruins! And the most powerful being in this clan under MY control." Young Malace flew down from the rafters and looked past Ylva and bowed to the Mimic. Ylva did take note of his shaking movements. He was fighting for control, but this mimic had strong magic. She wondered if he would be able to free himself.
"Y-You w-wont get a-away w-with this," Ylva snarled at the Mimic. "Marina-"
"Yes I know," The mimic growled, contorting Ylva's face. "That Bogsneak is proving to be a problem. But she's with those two Peacock Skydancers. She won't last any longer."
"D-don't," a low voice shook. Ylva and the captor both locked their gaze at Malace who was trembling violently as he fought against the Mimic's spell.
"Oh my," the Mimic whispered as it placed a wicked smile upon Ylva's face.
"Y-you underestimate them," Malace struggled to speak so he chose his words very carefully. "Raven, Azinya, Mom. They all are different. But they are all strong. They will slay you. Or worse. Imprison you." He lifted his head and his eyes shone like light from the light flight. It was now the Ylva had known this wasn't Malace speaking, but Haruka the sorceress trapped in the North Tower. She glanced at the Mimic to find it's face full of emotions. Surprised at Haruka's magic despite being locked up, terrified that she had managed to use Malace as her vessal, and furious that she was threatening the Mimic even though it had control over these lands.
"Begone from him, witch!" The mimic screamed and pushed Haruka's magic out of Malace. "All of you," it whispered in the dead silence of the woods. "All of you must die tonight!"
Raven and Azinya used their magic to pacify and eliminate the Mimics dressed as their companions. Above them, two Nocturne's circled like vultures sending magic down periodically. Winterbee and Entoma sent in their bug magic at the twin sisters to try and lessen their moral.
Marina slashed her way through the mimics without a care knowing their magic now only truly affects their Nocturnes. She took aim at Winterbee and Entoma and launched herself, taking them out with her skillful eliminate and turning her blade to the blunt end to knock them out instead of killing them.
"So that's Entoma, Winter, Royal and Crysta all taken care of," Raven sighed. "That means we have Essa and Ylva left to worry about."
You forget Malace, Azinya signed. We have yet to find traces of him so we must assume he is under their control as well.
"I don't doubt it," Marina growled. "But he is a strong one. I bet it's using all of its magic to keep him under its control."
"It doesn't matter to you," a familiar voice giggled. The three looked around the canopy where the voice came from and their hearts sank. They knew exactly who's voice this belonged to. The Chameleon Essa. "This spot is where you all will perish. This clan is as good as dead." An onslaught on spells was unleashed against the trio. Azinya and Raven did their best to dodge the spells as Marina blocked them with her cleaver. All they needed to do was find out where Essa was perched. She was smart, calculated, and powerful. But she was squishy, thus why she took to ambush attacks like this for invaders. Marina looked to the twins who were hiding under a shield Azinya had made when her mind clicked.
"Raven," Azinya shouted. "Release your Gyre!"
"You've lost it now, Hag!" Raven shouted back. She knew releasing the Gyre would mean having it release its fire magic it had stored up. The potential of an attack like that would mean massive damage to both parties and Raven wasn't about all of that. "I refuse to injure, or worse kill my sister and I like this!"
"You've been training with it, have you not," Marina lectured the young girl. "Use a small portion of its magic. Not enough to cause and eruption, but enough to cause a flash."
"I've never done that before," Raven shouted back. "It's easier to release all the magic, releasing that little would be so precise!" This was Raven's own way of admitting she wasn't strong enough, but Marina knew she had the abilities.
"Raven, you need to believe in yourself. I know that you're scared of this situation. What could happen to your sister and if you are able to protect her from your mother again. But I need you to trust in yourself and in me. If that Nocturne spoke the truth, then Haruka has already been toying with this mimic for hours now. Which means it will want to release her so it can kill her first. And we all now this cannot happen.
"So," Marina continued over the crashing of the spells around them. "Release the magic to blind Essa. Prove to me that you are a powerful mage. And lets make sure that your mother stays in her cage." Raven looked horrified and Marina before turning to her sister. She swore to protect Azinya ever since they were kids. She studied Azinya's focused face before nodding.
"Alright," she sighed. "Stand back." The Smoke Gyre flew out from between her feathers and flew near the canopy before turning into a small ball of smoke. Raven focused all that she could feeling the magic in her familiar. She waited for the build up before releasing. The Gyre unfolded as it went from black to a bright light illuminating the Tangled Woods around them like it had never been before. The trio covered their eyes as they heard horrible screams from up in the canopy. The magic stopped and the light faded as they heard a light thump on the grounds between them. Allowing themselves to open their eyes again they saw Essa laid at the ground between them.
"I'm proud of you," Marina smiled. Raven looked at the leader of her clan. She nodded excitedly and looked back to her sister who smiled brightly and hugged her.
"Quit it," the mimic shouted banging on the door to Haruka's prison. "I am in charge! I took over this clan! And I will destroy it if you don't shut up!" Ylva watched as the mimic was becoming hysterical, as do all unwelcome guests within the moonlit scar. Akuubah usually bestows a spell upon those who come into this clan to protect them from Haruka's psyonic manipulation. With the mimic sneaking in, Haruka has the perfect puppet to manipulate.
"She won't stop," Ylva noted. She was released from her paralysis but was still locked with chains and runes. "This is what she does. Drives you mad so that you can make the foolish decision to release her. You can't fall into her trap."
"Shut up!" The Mimic launched at Ylva. No longer did it look like her, instead showing off its true form. A gilded mask cloak with floating gold chains and sapphire amulets and bands. Cyan spectral hands streatched out from the sapphires that wrapped around Ylva.
"I don't give a damn about anything you say, Ice witch! I will be the one to feast on this clan! I won this honor and I will indulge in it. And you know what." Ylva watched in fear as the mimics eyes shined brighter. It turned its head slowly to the tower and several hands reached out towards it. "She's going to be my first meal!"
"NO!" A distant voice shouted. Around the trio all of their adversaries vanished.
"Did we win," Raven asked.
"No," Marina said low. "I think we're close to failure." The three rushed off towards the voice. They found themselves at the North Tower where Ylva shouted and cursed at the mimic as its spectral hands reached for the locks to undo them.
"No," Raven whispered horrified at the possibilities. Time seemed to slow, everything this clan had done to keep things safe was about to be undone. What could they do, how could they stop this? Raven feared they were too late, her mind couldn't think of anything so she looked to Marina.
Marina's face, for the first time anyone had seen, was full of horror. This Mimic had managed to tear down all that she had built throughout these years, and here it was. About to unleash the very thing she had swore to keep.
Marina and Raven stood frozen in fear and horror. It took a blast of fire aimed at the mimic to bring them back. They looked behind them to find Azinya has casted a fire ball spell. She looked at the both of them and signed: Father is down, which means his magic is no longer on the clan. I just caste his charm on myself. I can do the same for the two of you. She held out her hands and a wave of energy flowed over the two. Mother got to the both of you to lessen your moral. To let you cave and allow this thing to release her. We all know that cannot happen. So get it together and let's finish this.
Marina looked proudly upon Raven and Azinya. Raven was usually rash but here she was watching what her sister had to say and listening carefully to plans. Azinya was usually quiet, bookish and docile yet here she took a stand to help stop something. She turned around and drew her blade. Raven sharpened her claws. Azinya cased a resistance spell on all of them before they all darted towards the Mimic.
Within a few small moments, it was over. The mimic lied weak at the base of the North Gate and its magic lifted from the clan. Everyone was exhausted but glad that the worst was over. Until they heard the gate creaking open. The last things anyone saw within the North tower were the light glowing orbs of the Sorceress as she donned the Mimic as clothing, presumably draining its life essence for herself, before the gates slammed shut. She might not be released yet. But she just got a whole lot more power.